A young actor has choked back tears as she described Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson as "very difficult to be around" amid a dispute over an alleged sexual harassment complaint.

Charlotte MacInnes felt like she had her big break when she was cast in musical comedy The Deb, set in rural NSW and directed and co-produced by Wilson.

But she later sued the Pitch Perfect star over social media posts which claimed the young actor had complained about feeling uncomfortable after bathing with co-producer Amanda Ghost in their swimwear.

Wilson's social media posts suggested MacInnes had dishonestly retracted the complaint in return for a lead role in a stage production and a record deal, the young actor claims.

"I never made a complaint to Ms Wilson," MacInnes told the Federal Court on Thursday.

Ms Ghost suffered a medical episode on Bondi Beach on September 5, 2023 and MacInnes assisted her back to an apartment they shared with others, the court was told.

In a statement about the incident, MacInnes said she ran a shower for the producer before she and another woman suggested a bath would warm her up more efficiently.

"An innocent incident occurred that Ms Wilson has exploited and mischaracterised ever since," the actor said.

Wilson's barrister Dauid Sibtain SC noted she did not mention sharing the bath with Ms Ghost, something she had since acknowledged doing.

But MacInnes rejected his suggestions that her statement was "false or at least highly misleading" because of the omission.

MacInnes maintained she had not told Wilson the producer asked her to have a shower and bathe with her and that it had made her uncomfortable.

"I never said those words," she told the court.

She was close to tears as she described her struggle to maintain a professional and lighthearted relationship with Wilson in the aftermath of the allegations.

Quizzed about whether she had been introduced to actors Cate Blanchett and Margot Robbie by Wilson "under sufferance", the young actor said she had tried to keep things lighthearted.

"It's very difficult to be around Rebel," she said as her voice broke and she blinked back tears.

Rather than having a good time, MacInnes said she had been playing a role while the older actress was around.

"I was learning how to survive my interactions after learning what had been said about me," she told the court.

She had been deeply distressed when Ms Ghost stopped speaking to her after Wilson relayed the alleged complaint, MacInnes said.

She also worried about how it might affect her career before the pair reconciled.

The young actor felt her dreams were coming true when she was performing on superyachts and flying in private jets, thanks in part to the support provided by Ms Ghost.

She had prioritised meeting with Ms Ghost over attending a theatre production with Wilson and other cast members from The Deb in May 2023, four months before the alleged bath incident.

MacInnes didn't respond to Wilson's invitation and ended up dining with Ms Ghost, texts disclosed to the court reveal.

"Huge apologies again for last night … I lost track of time," the younger actor texted Wilson the next day.

"I appreciate the apology," the Bridesmaid star replied.

"In the future, it is terribly rude to say you wanted a ticket to a show and then you don't reply or follow up … not a great start to our working relationship."

MacInnes offered her "huge apologies" and praised the older actor as "nothing short of wonderful".

They were the first cracks in a relationship that completely fell apart when Wilson took to social media to allege the young actor had retracted her complaint to advance her career.

The Deb was released in Australia in early April after legal issues prevented its widespread release following its 2024 film festival premiere.

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Short-nosed dogs could soon be able to breathe easier thanks to a new injection developed by Australian scientists.

Almost half of all Pugs, French and British Bulldogs suffer from chronic respiratory condition Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), which progressively impacts their ability to breathe, eat, exercise and sleep.

In severe cases, the condition can also shorten their life up to four years.

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"Decades of selective breeding for the popular flat-faced appearance have unfortunately led to serious breathing problems," he said. 

Most affected dogs, like Pugtato, require surgery to widen the nostrils and remove excessive throat tissue to help their breathing.

"He was absolutely struggling to breathe and I actually thought he was going to die," Pugtato's owner Joanna Herceg said.

"He dropped seven or eight kilograms but still he was struggling.

"The surgery improved him a little bit but he still wasn't good."

Out of options, Pugtato was one of six pugs and bulldogs to take part in an early trial of a new oral treatment for dogs who struggled to complete a brisk three-minute walk.

Developed by biotech company Snoretox and RMIT University in Melbourne, the SnoreTox-1 trial is hoping to provide a less-invasive alternative to help with breathing.

The dogs were sedated before an injection of Snoretox-1 was given under their tongue.

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The trial found owners began noticing reduced breathing noise and effort when walking after just 10 days.

For Pugtato, it was even quicker.

"We did the Snoretox injection and literally within a few days I started to notice his breathing improving," Herceg said.

"He went from a dog who struggled everyday and was really loud…to a dog that's active, happy, plays and his breathing's drastically improved"

The SnoreTox-1 technology is described as "the opposite of Botox" and works by strengthening airway muscles to help support the throat to maintain airflow.

"What it does is the opposite of Botox. It makes the muscles at the floor of the mouth a little stronger, " Snoretox Managing Director and RMIT Adjunct Professor Tony Sasse said.

It has been in development for 15 years.

For some of the dogs the treatment lasted more than six months.

Now researchers are hoping to ramp up trials in the middle of the year, with the aim of eventually getting the treatment approved for wider use.

"Further research and regulatory approvals are required before the treatment can be offered more widely, but these positive results provide an early indication that we are on the right path," Sasse said.

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Tributes are flowing for a "larger-than-life" teenager who was tragically killed when an electric motorcycle he was a passenger on collided with two cars in Melbourne's north-east last night.

Max Foster, 15, was a pillion passenger on an electric motorbike that collided with two cars near Plenty Road in South Morang about 5.30pm yesterday.

Max was treated at the scene for life-threatening injuries but sadly could not be saved.

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The motorbike rider, a 17-year-old boy, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Max's friends today gathered to honour him.

"He was the most loving kid I've ever met, one of the most realest people, he would always back me up in any situation," friend Luca Nogarotco said.

"He was always there for me, I was always there for him, but unfortunately he's passed away now. He's gone too soon."

"He was the first person I spent my lunch with at his school, he was great. He had a big heart, he was very friendly, he had a great sense of humour," Joacph Yatwob said.

Max's school paid tribute to the teen in a statement.

"Max was a valued member of our college community, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss for us all," the school said.

"Max was a larger-than-life personality, who endeared us with his warmth, humour, positivity and embraced us with a charm and smile that will always be unmistakingly Max.

"Forever in our hearts."

Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith has confirmed the bike was illegal and unregistered.

"The motorcyclist has gone through a red light, clearly a red light, and has collided with a vehicle going in the opposite direction," Goldsmith alleged.

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"It was an illegal motorcycle that was incapable of being registered in Victoria because it doesn't fit the safety category to be registered in Victoria."

Witnesses claim only one of the riders was wearing a helmet.

The tragic crash has sparked renewed safety warnings about the dangers of illegal e-bikes and scooters.

"The vehicle that we are talking about last night is capable of going 90 km/h, and it's in the hands of children and there is unfortunately a glut of them on the market," Goldsmith said.

There are also calls for the state government to bring in tighter regulations, such as a minimum age and licence requirement.

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"A young person has lost his life, not knowing the consequences of his actions, on e-bikes that are not toys and we see too often people on e-bikes without helmets, at speed, flouting the law," Police Minister Anthony Carbines said.

"In the end the laws are there to be obeyed and when people break the law, other than being held accountable for it, the worst accountability can be that you lose your life."

Max's mates have vowed to give up the thrill of illegal e-bike riding.

"I get it, it's fun, I used to love doing it, but I'm done with it now. l lost a mate to it," Nogarotco said.

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